I'm a legal age student who is looking to get into a nursing program. I don't "go out/go to parties", but, I don't mind drinking alcohol.
Does anyone know if drinking alcohol is forbidden while in nursing school? Someone told me that.
Specifically, does anyone know if Wilkes University forbids alcohol in its accelerated nursing program? The student handbook did not make it clear (when I read it online).
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
Some schools in Utah are dry campuses and expect students to refrain while enrolled. It's a nonissue for many as abstinence from alcohol & caffeine are part of the local culture and religion. Many schools are dry campuses but in your off campus the decision is yours if you are of legal age and refrain from illegal or questionable behaviors (driving while under the influence, reporting to class/clinical)
I don't know. I've never even heard of that school.
You could probably look up the nursing program handbook online.
Use some common sense. Don't drink the night before, or the morning of, school days is a good rule of thumb. Many workplaces have a written rule of no alcohol or other intoxicating substance ingestion X number of hours before duty. But some small people have to be more strict with themselves because their alcohol level is more pronounced due to their body makeup. If you would not drive a car or operate machinery with the level of present alcohol consumption, then don't go to school that way. If you find a conflict, then maybe it is time to look at your alcohol use and whether or not it is posing a problem in your professional or personal life. You know what they say if you have to ask the question........
I was tested for alcohol before starting my 1st semester. However, our Dean specifically said to us to be responsible and not wear ANYTHING that represents the school. She said it wasn't the 60s anymore.
Some religious schools ban alcohol altogether. My school technically bans a lot of things because they are religious. I am not supposed to drink alcohol, smoke, engage in homosexual relationships, engage in premarital sex, etc. At least I think those rules apply to the graduate students as well as the undergrad students. I know for sure it is in the undergrad handbook but I haven't seen the graduate handbook. They also require the undergraduate students who live on campus or within city limits to participate in chapel. I heard a guy and a girl were kicked out for a semester because the girl became pregnant (they were undergrads).
My public universities? As long as you weren't doing drugs and you were legal age, you could drink. Just don't come to clinical/class/lab hung over or drunk.
My, my, things have certainly changed since the 70s.
I went to a large, well known, Catholic (Jesuit) university. There were impromptu kegger parties almost every weekend in the dorms, actual dorm parties had beer flowing like water, there were several bars within walking distance of the campus, and there was a large brewery nearby that had tours and free samples.
If you showed up at class or clinicals obviously impaired I'm sure there would have been disciplinary action of some sort, but no one stressed about students drinking.
Personally, I never really gave it much thought, since I'm not a drinker.
Mavrick, BSN, RN
1,578 Posts
I don't drink and I can smell it on people's breath the next afternoon.